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llaila GLIBT'. ELEGTRVOLIBR.

No. 5145305. Patented Feb''lagan.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDMUN D E. OLIFT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN SHAW, TRUSTEE, AND JOHN F. POLE, OF SAME PLACE.

VELECTROLI ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,305, dated February 6, 1894.

Application tiled July 1, 1891. Renewed August 9, 1893. Serial No. 482,751. (No model.)

.To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that v I, EDMUND E. CLIFT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 'have invented certain Improvements in Electroliers, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of my invention is to so construct an electrolier that it can be readily and neatly wired, and that will be thoroughly insulated, as fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure l, is a vertical sectional view of my improved electrolier. Fig. 2, is a sectional view showing the device for connecting the main wires to the coupling rings. Figs. 3 and 1l, are detached perspective views of the coupling rings shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a view showing the end of one of the branch wires ready to be attached to the coupling.

Figs. 8, 9 and lO, are views of modifiing the branch wires.

A is the body of the electrolier to which is Vattached a frame B, having sockets b for the tion A; the two rings b', b2 are connected together by arms b3 and depending from the central ring b is a loop b4 through which passes a screw rod c on which is a nut c serv ing to hold the lower cap a in place, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Fitting loosely around the tube d is an upper cap a2 which can be readily raised clear of the frame B, and permitting ready access to the interior of the frame by simply removing the cap a and raising the cap a2.

The electrolier is hung in any suitable manner, in the present instance from a spider D secured to the ceiling, the spider having a socket d in which is inserted a bushing E ot non-conductin g material, and passing through this bushing is the threaded stem of the tube a provided at its upper end with a nut d.

Between a collar on the tube and the socket d is a non-conducting ring e, forming with Figs. 6 and 7,v are views of modifications of the coupling ring.

cations showing different methods of connectthe bushing a complete non-conductor, preventing any contact betweenv the electrolier and its hanger.

I mount in any suitable manner Within the trame B, a manifold coupling F, clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4t. This coupling is made in two parts F', F2, one coupling being connected to one of the main wires a: and the other to the main wire so that the two sections form the terminals of the two main line wires.

In the presentinstance the coupling is made of two rings f of good conducting material, each having a coating of non-conducting 1naterial h. The terminal wire g of the section F2 is coupled to its ring f and is preferably insulated and passes up through the section F. The terminal Wire 't' of the section F is coupled to its ring f in any suitable manner. Each terminal g and z', as shown in Fig. 2, is split, forming two arms between which is inserted the end of the main wire; a coupling sleeve lml is then passed over the ends of the terminal and Wire, and a set screw p compresses the arms tightly against the end of the wire and the sleeve may be made of nonconducting material, if necessary. Other forms of coupling may be used, however, without departing from my invention.

A series of radial grooves fn., shown clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, are cut in the rings forming each section and are ot' anumber corresponding to the number of branches in the electrolier. In the present instance I have shown an electrolier with four branches and there are therefore four radial slots n in each section of the manifold coupling.

On the end ot' each wire S are secured in any suitable manner, spring coupling arms s, preferably iiattened so as to tit snugly in the grooves or slots n in each section of the coupling and having a comparatively large surface in contactr with the rings f and having flaring ends which prevent the accidental pulling out of the arms. As shown in Fig. 5, these arms are secured to the wire by solder. In Figs. 8 and 10, I have shown the arms secured by a plate s', which has cleats s2struck up from it, binding the arms tightly to the wire, but Where the wire is of such thickness that it can be reduced, I may form it as shown IOO in Fig. 9, the reduced portion fitting into the slots n, and in some instances, the wire is split, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9, and spread out against the wall of each slot.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modification of the manifold coupler, in the form of two cups of non-conducting material separated by a disl f which is preferably screwed into both cups. In each cup is a conducting ringfand each ring has a main coupling terminal, the same as that shown in Fig. 2 and in place of being slotted, has a series of holes which are drilled through the cup so as to receive the branch wires. Suitable set screws 7.: are provided to secure the wires to the ring.

In Fig. '7, I have shown a ring having enlarged bearing surfaces at the slots so as to make a better contact with the branch wires.

Where a large number ofbranch wires are used, the cups may be duplicated and mounted one below the other, and coupled in pairs or t0 independent wires.

It will be noticed that one advantage I gain in the use of this coupling is to dispense entirely with the joint at the ceiling.

Vhen a building is wired I leave enough wire extending through the ceiling to pass to the manifold couplingr in the frame B, the wire passing through the tube a in the body A, as shown, and can be readily coupled to the terminals i and g of each ring, making a neat joint. The coupling does away entirely with the common wire joints now generally made, and I am enabled to couple a large number of branch wires to the main wire in a comparatively small space and the manifold coupling being covered with non-conducting material, insulates it from the frame B and in the event of short circuiting of any of the branches the defective wire may be readilylocated by detaching the branch wires, one by one, from the coupling rings. In order to prevent the coupling moving out of place I extend the screw rod c up into the base of the lower section F2 and may either secure this section to the rod, or merely let it rest on a shoulder or nut on the end of the SZLIDO.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination in au electrolier, of a 5o manifold coupling comprising two or more perforated or slotted conductin g rings mounted one above the other, with non-conducting material incasing said rings and separating them, terminals on each ring adapted tobeconnected to the main wires, with branch Wires adapted to the openings in the conducting rings, substantially as described.

2. The combination in an electrolier, of the open frame workB to which the branches of the electrolier are secured, a manifold. coupling mounted within said frame having terminals split at their ends, forming two arms, with the main wires having their ends adapted to pass between the two arms, and a sleeve having a set screw for binding the two arms of the terminal to the wires, substantially as described.

The combination of a slotted conducting ring, connected tothe main line wire, with a branch wire having two spring arms secured thereto, and adapted to the slot in the conducting ring, substantially as described.

Ll. 'lhe combination of a slotted conducting ring, connected to the main line wire, with a branch wire, spring arms, as s, secured thereto, and outwardly Haring ends on said spring arms, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the coupling having a slot therein, a wire, spring arms adapted to said wire, and a sleeve having a struck up piece securing the arms to the wire, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the ring of conducting material, nonconducting coatings on said ring, radial slots extending through the ring and nonconducti ng coatings and branch wires extending into the slots, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDMUN D E. GLI FT.

Witnesses:

HENRY IIoWsoN, WILLIAM. D. CONNER. 

